Purification of fluid media



common I sumo, cannot;

search. ucoym Patented Mar. 27, 945.

ED" STATES PATENT OFFICE I amass PURIFICATION OF'FLUID'MEDIA Jack- '1. Thurston-c Riverside, (301111., assignor' to No Drawing. Application August 1, 1942,

Serial No. 453,276

(Cl. 23r--1).

7 Claims.

This invention relatesfto the removal of cations from fiuidmedia,.to theexchange of cations in fiuidmedia. and to the purification of fluid 'media. An object of this invention is to provide aproan anion activebed between each of the cation active beds. Thus, water containing about 50 P. P. M, of total solids including at P. P. M. of non-volatilesolids may be passed through a bed o'f one-of my cation active resins. If this water tion process as well as processes ior preparing such materials.

cess for removing cationsfrom fluid media, be passed through about 2' cubic feet of the resin Another object of my invention islto purify described in Examp e 5 which Packed into a fluid media and, moreparticularly, aqueous media column which is about inches in diameter, at containing. undesired. cations. a rate of about 1 gal. per minute, the eiiluent These andother. objects are attained by. COD." contains only about 21 P. P. M. total solids and tacting, the fluid, to. betreated with a material 10 has a-pH of about 4-.5. The acidity of the eilluent obtained by resinifying a furyl substituted organic may be removedby passing it through an anion sulfonate by reaction with at least one aldehyde active resin, and the water may be still further and preferably with furfural or a mixture of furpurified by passing it through another bed O fura-l'. andoneor: more other aldehydes. O'ne ation. active m te after which it m method for preparing .sulionates of the aforel5 aerated to remove carbon dioxide or further. 1 mentioned type is by condensing furfural with treatedwith additional beds of. anion. and, cation" a substance containing an active methylgroup active m e a sor? an active methylene'group'and'converting the EF'MMPLE 2 resu'ltingcondensation product into a sulfonate, for example, by reaction. with a. bisulfite. .T About 10 liters of an aqueous solution contamt erm sulfonatefi as used' herein i l t ing 50% ofcrude cane sugar which is dark'brown 'hydroge i' ifo t in' thep words, thesll. in color, quite turbid and'has a pI-Iof about 6j.5 ionic, acid). aswell as the metal, ammonia or .is heated'to about 65 C; Thesolutionmay be amine salts thereof; subjected to a preliminary filtration if desired The. followizigv examples in. which the. propor- 25 and passedthroush aboutxlliter: of acationactive 'ti nsare in parts by weight are. giveniby way of material p p red inva ance with my 1- v illustration. and. not in. limitation. Except. as Ventionafm example, thelvesm preparedaccol'vd' otherwise indicated, theformalin is an aqueous i' Example 5 Volume resin l solution, containing 37% formaldehyde, th ployedrmay'be about 1 liter of resin packedmto hydrochloricv acid .isan aqueousv solutioncontainacolumnabout 2 inchesin-diameter. The pI-Lof mg 37% HCl'and the furfural is about 95% pure, the: eflluent; from: the cationactive; material is EXAMPLE. about. 1:5 thereby indicating-that cations have i been removed with consequent-release otfreeacid. A cylinder or other vessel. is filled with. a "I-ih'e: effluent-may tie/passed through an anion granular cation active material prepared in acactive resin to remove'the acid: and other anions cordance with one orlmore of: the: examples: set which. may be'present' and. this may be followed forth W- Through this bediof resin;- a; dilute byffurther treatments with. cationandianion acacid solution, e. g., 02-10% sulfuric acid is passed tive resins, or. itmaybe followed'bytreatment and 'the resi'nris activated after which it'is washed bone black. or any of the e p fi withwater to removeresiduai acid; This bed of to .methods emp y in e nr finingna ly the I resin' isnow 'in-the so calledhydrogen'activated 'susarsmay be: crystallized from-thepurified. sugar statc-an'di's suitable for removing cations from solution to. produce a crystalline sugar.v of exfiuidmedia-such as water. tremely high purity and brilliance characteristic f WM cationsinthe-form ofia base of: high: grade sugar. Furthermore; if molasses orsaltis'passedthroughthe bed of resin; If the 'be-produced as a by-productirromthis:sugar; it water containsonly bases the 'efiiuent will b'e' subisna highuality product-having a light color and stantiallyneutral and free of cations until the ;-avery lowcontentof salts' as impurities. capacity ofthe-bed" of resin is approached. If tli Other aqueous solutions containingacations may water contains 'saltfthe eifluent will be-acidic -and be purified in the same general manner as defor most purposes it will'bedesirable'to pass" the 9 scribed in the preceding examples. Furthermore, efiiuentrthrough" a, bed'of anion active resin" to othenfiuid': media containing,- cations. may be remove'the acid. In most purification processes, purified in the same general manner. The folparticularlyiifthe saltycontent" ofthe'fluidlt'ojbe lowing examples illustrate the cation active ma treatedbehigh it. will be-necessary. or'desirable terials which are suitablezfor use in my purificato; employ a plurality of. cation active: beds with to about 12 hours,

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of potassium 1-alpha-furyZ-3-lcetobutane sulfonate I Parts Furfurylidene acetone 136 Potassiummetabisulfite 113 Water 150 slowly until the former is completely dissolved.

Decolorizing charcoal is added to the hot solution, which is filtered and the colored filtrate permitted to cool during which time a white crystalline solid deposits. This white crystalline material is filtered, washed with ethanol and dried. .;;A1 yield of about 62% of the theoretical yield .is ,obtained. The melting point of the product is about 2l2-213 C. and a recrystallized sample gives the following analysis:

Per .cent Per cent Per cent 0 n s oans. for ointoisx g Obtained 37:28 s1 85 121 61 Preparation of resin Parts Potassium 1 alpha-Iuryl-3-ketobutane-sulfonate k 103 Waterj Furfural 7'1 Hydrochloric acid 24 Y A solution of the Sulfonate in the water is pre pared by warming them together and cooling to about 25 C. To this solution the furfural is added thereby producing a straw-colored solution. The hydrochloric acid is added thereby causing the solution to darken becoming first red, then violet and finally black. This solution is, allowedto stand for from several hours up during which time a firm, black rubbery gel is formed. This gel is chopped into particles of relatively small size, spread on trays and cured for about 4 hours at around 100 C. The product is an extremely hard, black solid resembling coal in appearance. The material is quite heat resistant and carbonizes only slowly when placed on a hot plate for 4 hours.-

The product is ground and screened so that the bulk of the material passes through a 24 mesh screen but remains on a mesh screen. The final product exhibits a capacity for the absorption or exchange of cations from water equivalent to about 12,200 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin and the density of the material is about 29 pounds per cubic foot.

' EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of urfun Zacetone sulfonate Parts Crude furfurylidene acetone 544 Potassium metabisulflte- 444 Water 600 These substances are heated boiling after being placed in a reaction vessel equipped with a mechanical stirrer and a. reflux condenser. The reacting mixture is refluxed for about 16 hours.

Sufiicient ethanol is added to the resulting solution to precipitate the white solid product which is filtered and crystallized twice from aqueous ethanol. A yield of about 338 parts of sulfonate is obtained. Preparation of resin Parts Furfurylacetone sulfonate (0.5 mol.) 128 Water 175 Furfural (0.625 mol.) 55 Hydrochloric acid- 15 A resin is prepared from these substances in the same manner as described in Example 1. A soft'rubbery gel is formed a few hours after the addition of the hydrochloric acid. The gel is broken up into small particles, spread on a tray, placed in an oven and cured, maintaining the temperature at 50 C. for around 18 hours and at around C. for an additional 4 hours. The a resin is ground and screened in the usual manner (as described in Example 1). The final product has a capacity for the absorption of cations from water calculated to about 18,400 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin and the packed density of the material is about 24.1 pounds per cubic foot.

' EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of crude furfurylacetone sulfonate Parts Crude furfurylidene acetone 2,075 Sodium bisulfite 1,664 Water 5,000

These substances are placed in a reaction ves- Preparation of resin Parts .Crude furfurylacetone sulfonate solution (1 mol) 5 9 Furfural (2 mols) 202 Hydrochloric acid 2 The crude furfurylacetone sulfonate solution used in the above formulation is that prepared in accordance with the procedure in the preceding section of this example. To this solution the hydrochloric acid is added and after thoroughly mixing, the furfural is added. The resulting solution immediately darkens and a. soft gel is formed after around 2 days time. The gel is permitted to age for about 5 days after which time it is quite hard. The hard gel is ground in small pieces, spread on trays and cured in an oven maintained at about 50 C. for about 15 hours and at around 100 0. for an additional 5 hours. The cured resin is ground and screened in the usual manner thereby producing a material which has a capacity for the exchange of cations equivalent to about 17,300 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of, resin and a i'tiihllibi;

ear-2,233 3 I The turiurylacetone sulfonate is prepared in accordance with Example 2. It is dissolved in -.the water and; formalin after which the furiural is added. When-the solution becomes homogeneous, the hydrochloric acid is added after which the solution darkens slowly. After :about 3 days a soft gel is formed and .this is .chopped up into small pieces, placed on atray and cured at a temperature of around 50 C. for

aboutli hours followed by-an additional 16 hours "at approximately 100 C. The resin is ground and screenedin the usual manner thereby pro- 'ducing;a.-.material having .a capacity-for the ex- I change ofcations equivalent to -21,900.-grains:of

calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin. The packed density of the resin is about 29.4 pounds per cubic foot.

EXAMPLE -7 About-'70 parts of water and about-2.45 parts of sodium hydroxide (97%) are agitated in a kettle by means of a mechanical agitator to form 'a-solutionhaving a pH 'of about 11.8. A mixture of '-about 104.4 partsof acetone and 181 parts of furfural is added slowly over a period of about 1 hour, during which time the temperature is-main-.

tained at about room temperature and the re- .actingmixture is agitated. The reacting mix-.

ture is stirred .for anadditional hour, after which a solution of about 3.06 parts of sulfuric acid (95.5%) and 3.06 parts of water is added to brin the pH to about 7. About 187.2 parts of sodium =bisu1fite are added and the reaction mixture is heated to about 95 C. over :a .period of aboutminutes. An exothermic reaction occurs and causes the temperature to rise to 100 'C. After the exothermic reaction subsides the reacting mix- :ture becomes clear and itis refluxed for about /2 :hour. The product is cooled to about50 C. and

a solution of 122.4 parts of sulfuric acid and 194 parts of water are added, followed by the addition of 271.8.parts of furfural. The reacting mixture ris agitated for about '70 minutes during which time the temperature is maintained at about 50-55 C. The resulting solution is discharged into molds where after about 40 minutes it gels.

"The gel is aged about 16-18 hours and granulated to pass through an 8 mesh screen. The granulated resin is spread on trays and .placed in an oven maintained at .C. for about 2-4 hours, raised to about 100-135 C. over a period of about 1 hourand maintained at about IOU-135 C. for

about 4 9 hours. The product has a capacity for the absorption of cations equivalent to about "17,000grains of calcium'carbonate per cubic foot of resin and a packed density of about 24-27 pounds per cubic foot.

ExAMeLs 8 4 Parts .Crude :furfurylacetone sulfonate :solution (1 mol) 5133 :Furfural 1-'.5-mols) e 151.5

Sulfuric acid (41.5%) 7-9 'The sulfonate solution is prepared in accordance with Example 3 and it contains about46.8% of'the sul'ionate. The'sulfuric acid is mixed with the sulfonate in a reaction vessel provided with-an agitator. The reaction vessel is preferably surrounded by a jacket through which a heat exchange medium may be circulated. in order to maintain the temperature of the contents of the reaction vessel constant. The temperature :is maintained at about C. in this example. The iurfural is added to the solution in the reaction vesselafter adjusting its temperature to about-30 C. The reacting mixture is agitated for about 20 minutes after which the resulting solution, is maintained at about 30 C. either in the reaction vessel or in other convenient vessels until gelation occurs. The gel forms in about 16.6 hours after whichitis aged at room temperature for about "16 24 hours. The gel is ground, spread on trays, driedand cured for about 4 hours at 50 C. and 'for aboutl'hours at C. The cured resin is further processed in the usual manner and it has a density of about 29.5 pounds per cubic foot and a capacity of about 16,600 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin.

ExAMrLE 9 Example 8 is repeated except that 119 parts of sulfuric acid areused instead of 79 parts of sulfuric acid. The final product has a packed density of about 33.5 pounds per cubic foot and a capacity of about 10,200 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin.

EXAMPLE 10 Example 8 is repeated except that about 35 parts of hydrochloric acid are used in place of .the sulfuric acid. The final product has a capacity of about 18,800 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin and a packed density of about 24.5 pounds per cubic foot.

EXAMPLE 11 Example 8 is repeated except that about 1'72 .parts of sulfuric acid are used in place of '79 parts of sulfuric acid. The final product has a capacity of about 10,200 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic .foot of resin and a packed density of about 11 pounds per cubic foot.

EXAMPLE 12 Parts Crude furfurylacetone sulfonate solution.. 308 Water 1'95 Furfural 90.9 Sulfuric acid 103.2

The water and sulfuric acid are mixed with the sulfonatesolution, the furfural added and the re-' actioncarried out in accordance with Example 6. The final product has a capacity of'about 8,400 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin and a density of about 31.1 pounds per cubic foot.

EXAMPLE 13 Example i9 'is repeated except that the reaction is carried out at constant temperature'of -50 0.

search limit instead of 30 C. The final product hasa capacity of about 13,500 grains of calcium carbonate'per cubicfoot of resin and a density of about 28.6 pounds per cubic foot. I

EXAMPLE Example 8 is repeated except that the reaction is carried out at a constant temperature of about 50 C. instead of 30 C. The final product has a capacity of about 16,700 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin and a density of about 21 pounds per cubic foot.

EXAMPLE 16 Resins are prepared following the general procedure of Examples 8-15. The following table shows the effect of varying amounts of water and sulfuric acid in the reaction mixture. In each case the molal ratio of the sulfonate to the furfural is 1:15.

Gel formation time FURFURAL-FURFURYLACETONE SULFONA'IE RESINS A B H1804 equivss per HzO,per Ratio mol of furlural cent Minutes to Minutes to B/A gel at 30 C. gel at 50 C.

1 The 111015 of sulfuric acid would be half the values given in this column.

EXAMPLE 17 Parts Furfurylacetone sulfonate (0.3 mol) 72 Water 125 Ferric su 51 Furfural (0.45 mol) 46 about 3 days during which time a soft rubbery gel is formed. The gel is granulated, spread on trays, dried and cured for about 4 hours at 50 C.

. fol-lowed by an-additional 4 hours at around 100 C. The capacity of the final product after grinding and screening in the usual manner is equivalent to about 15,200 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin and the packed density is about 19.8 pounds per cubic foot.

EXAMPLE 18 Parts Furfurylacetone sulfonate (0.6 mol) 144 Water 250 Ferric chloride (hexahydrate) (0.3 mol) 82 Furfural (0.9 mol) The furfurylacetone sulfonate is prepared in accordance with Example 5. The sulfonate is C. In a suitable apparadissolved in the water and the ferric chloride is dissolved in the resulting solution. After the ferric chloride is dissolved, the pH of the solution is about 0.7. The solution is heated to about 70- and has a density of about 32.2 pounds per cubic foot.

EXAMPLE 19 Parts 'Furfurylacetone sulfonate (0.6 mol) 144 Water 250 Furfural (0.9 mol) 91 Boron fluoride in diethyl ether (45%) (0.3

mol) 46 The sulfonate is dissolved in the water in a suitable reaction vessel provided with an agitator. The furfural is added and the solution is warmed to about 40 C. The boron fluoride solution is added slowly over a period of about 5-10 minutes. Theether is allowed to distill from the reaction mixture after which the reacting solution is heated to about 70 C. and agitated for about /2- 1 hour. The resulting solution is allowed to stand at about room temperature for about 2 days by the end of which time a soft gel is formed. The gel is aged for an additional day, granulated, dried, cured and further processed in accordance with Example 17. The final product has a capacity for the extraction of cations from fluid media equivalent to about 17,700 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin and a packed density of about 21 pounds per cubic foot.

The sulfonate is prepared in accordance with Example 5. The formalin in which the triethanolamine is dissolved is added to a solution of the sul'fonate in the water. The resulting mixture is heated in a suitable reaction vessel provided with an agitator to about C. during which time it becomes quite dark. The resulting solution is cooled to room temperature and the furfural is added. The acid is added and the resulting mixture heated to about 60 C. when a clear solution is obtained. The solution is very dark in color at this stage. The solution is agitated for about --1 hour and allowed to stand for about 2 days at room temperature during which time a soft rubbery gel forms. The gel is aged for an additional day, after which it becomes quite firm. The gel is granulated, dried, cured and further processed as described in Example 17. The final product has a density of 15.6 pounds per cubic foot and'it exhibits a capacity for the absorption of cations from water equivalent to 21,500. grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin.

oz. iJUliillUSl l was. mono nu wit-Mm sea rcb Rodin 4 aavamas 5 Preparation of ditoufi'u/nr 1",5 -di -alpha-furyl-3- keto'pentanedisulfonate-L5 trays and curedfonabout 4 hoursat about. 50 C. followed by aboutui hours at. around 100 C. The final. product iss-ground.andscreenedinthe usual manner, after. which the packed density is about Parts 22.2.. pounds per cubic foot and the capacity for DiiEurf-urylidenev acetone. 86 s Sodium bisumte. 83 theabsonptionof cations from water 1s equivalent Water 116 These substances are. heated: toboiiing, andrefluxed in a. suitable apparatus-for about, 16, hours. The. resulting;solution is treated with decolorizing charcoal and filtered. The product is precipie to about 21,600 grains of. calcium carbonate per cubic iootof. resin..

EXAMPLE 23 Preparation of sodium L-alpha-furyl-I(3-keto -3- phenylpropane') sulfonate Parts mated from t y addi-tionpf the t F uriiurylidene acetonhenone. (-3.1 molsl 594 Ayield ofabout 84%; is. obtained. For. convene 950/, mt 3 mob), 360 iencethis product will be: designated. as difur SQ lsu fury] acetone. disulfonate.-. Theeproduct: does. not

melt at temperaturesup. to about: 250? (3..

P'rezmrcufi011. of resin Water 1,000

A mixture of these substances is heated in a reaction vessel; provided with an agitator and heated by suitable means, such as, for example,

Parts a. steam 'acket. The tem erature is brought to, gff fff fi g fifl dlsulfonate about 105 C. and after ab out 40 minutes a clear Water '5 solution is obtained. The temperature is maingyldrogmoric. 4Q tained' at around 105 C; for an additional 30 The disulfonate, water and hydrochloric: acid: are mixed together in a reaction; vessel pro-rifled with an agitator andheated to about 60 C. until a homogeneoussolution is obtained. The furf'uraP is added after which a gel forms in about 15- minutes: The gelis ground into small pieces, spreadjon trays and cured for about 4 hours at" about 50 C; followed by- 8111* additional 4 hours at around 100 'C..- A-f-t'er the-resulting resin is ground and screened in" theusual manner, the

Preparation. of resin s Parts final product has a packed dens1t of; about 25.4

pounds per cubic foot. g w capacity Eurfurylacetophenone sulionate (1 mol)... 302- fo the extraction of cations from watenequiva- Furfju'raII mols) nt to" about" 19;800'grainsof calcium carbonate Water ""7 per' cubic foot of resin. Hydriachlonc- EXAMPLE 22 Preparation vo disodium. 1,5-di-alpha-furyl-3- Icetopentane disulfonate-1,5 solution The furfural is added to a solution of the sodium hydroxide; acetone and water and 'the-resulting mixture is" agitated for about 2" hours. Afterstanding: arm-additional 14- hours, the difurfuryhdene acetone-separates as a-soli'd mass in the bottomof the-vessel. The mixture is heated sufiicientlyto melt the solid andthen it isneutralized with 10%;sulfuric acid; The sodium bisulfite'i's add-edandfifthe reacting mixture is heated forabout 2-3 hours. The resulting'solution is treatignatcd as-difurturyi' acetone disuiionate solution. Preparation-.0! resin Furiural (24 mols) 1 comes darker and after'abont a days a tough Sodium hydroxide 3,6, H1015) 144.; rubbery gel is formed. The resin is ground so Acetone (12'm0ls) 696 that it willpass through an 8mesh screen, spread Water 12332 on trays and cured for about 4 hours at Sodium bisulfite 33 followedby an additional 16; hours at approximately C.. The resultingmateniai is ground and screened. as usual, after which the packed:

density. is v about 29 pounds per cubic foot. and the capacity for the exchange'of cationsfrom water isequivalentto. about.7.,700, grains of calcium. carr' bonatepen cubic foot of resin.

ExA rLE 2.4- Prepamtz'on of 2 ,6-bis= (alpha-farmpotassiumsulfomethyl) -cyclohemanone Parts ed with decolorizing' charcoal and fiitered. The n fur'mr lid ne-cyclohexanone (0.54 :mol) 1"3'?" filtrate contams about 29.6% solids-and analysis p assi m. metabisulfite' (054 mol') indicates that-itcont'alns about 25%- ofthedi'sul w 280 fonate: For-conveniencethis-solution wilt-be des- The monoethyfether of t 1e 1y 1; 325;

The diiurfurylidene-cyclohexanone.isprepared.

in. accordance. with. the: procedures outlined in Compt. rend. 174- 14.69,- (1923.)v and J. Pharm. Difurfuryl acetone disuifonate solution (05. 204 9275 Thepobassium t 'bi ulfit z ggfaf ffi gigi is dissolved in the water to form a solution which Hymns..-.cs; 2.. added-w a suspensm dmrmyhdene" The hydrochloric acid. is added to thedisulfonate solution followed by the addition of. the.

furfural. A soft gel is formed after about 3 days and itis ground into small particles, placedupon cyclohexanone in the monoethyl ether of ethylene glycol. The mixture is heated to. boiling and the reaction mixture is cooled thereby causing a large mass of crystals to separate. The solid'material is filtered, suspended in the monoethylene ether of ethylene glycol, filtered, washed with an additional quantity of said ether, washed'with acetone and dried. An additional quantity of the product may be obtained by adding about 2 volumes of acetone to the ether filtrate thereby precipitating crystals which are filtered, washed and dried. The combined yield of the product is about 91% of the theoretical and it melts at about 250 C. For convenience this product will be designated as difurfurylcyclohexanone disulfonate. The product shows the following anal- The disul'fonate, water and acid are heated gether to a temperature of about 70 a clear solution. L'I'he furfural is added standing overnight a firm gel forms. broken into small pieces, spread on cured *ior'abouta hours at 50. C. and forfan additionale'hours at around 100 C. V The cured gel is ground and screened as usual to produce'a "final product having a capacity for theexchange of cations equivalent to about 6,700 grains ofycalcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin and a packed density of about 30 pounds per cubic foot of resin.

t C. to give and after The gel is t d.

Emma Preparation o jurfurylidenemethyl ethyl ketone 1 Parts Methyl ethyl ketone (1 mol); 72 Furfural "(1 mol) 101 Sodium hydroxide 4 water i 4.00

The mixture of the methyl ethyl ketone and the water containing thesodium hydroxide dissolved therein is placed in a reaction vessel provided with a mechanical agitator. Suflicient ethanol is added to give a clear solution. The furfural is added very slowly over 'a' period of; about 20 minutes during which time an oily material begins to separate.

the addition of sulfuric acid, thereby causing: the complete separation of the oily. material. This material is decanted and distilled under reduced pressure yielding about 69% of the theo retical quantity of product'boiling about'98' C.

I After agitating for-an addi tional hour the reaction mixture is acidified by Preparation.- of potassium-1-a;Zpha-fu1'yl-3- -ketopentane sulfonate Parts Furfurylidenemethyl ethyl ketone (3.28

1 mols) 429 Potassium metabisulflte (1.64 mols) 364 Water 500 'Preparation of resin 1 Parts Furfurylmethyl ethyl ketone sulfonate (1 mol) 270' Water 400 Furfural (1.5 mols) 152 Hydrochloric acid ,Thesulfonate is dissolved-in the water and acid and the-furfural is added to the resulting solution. The 1 resulting mixture is agitated for about minutes, thereby producing a clear solution.

After standing about a day,.a. soft gel forms. This gel isground to about 8 mesh, spread on trays, cured forabout 4 hours at around 50 Cofollowed by an additional 4 hours at C. The resulting resinis ground and screened. The final product has acapacity for the absorption of cations from waterequivalent to about 11,800 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of'resin, and it has a packed density of about 28.8 pounds per cubic foot.

EXAMPLE 26 Preparation of jurfurylidene methyl furjm-ylidene ethyl Icet ne Q Parts Methyl ethyl ketone (5 mols)." .360 Sodium hydroxide (2.2 mols) 86.5 Alcohol; 1,000 Furfural (11 mols) 1,110

A- mixture of the ketone and a solution of the sodium hydroxide in the water is placed in a reaction vessel provided with a mechanical agitator. The alcohol is added to give a clear solution after which the furfural-is added slowly over a period ofabout 1 hour. During the addition of the furfural, the temperature rises to about 62 C. and the color becomes dark. The reacting mixture is agitated for about 5 hours and then permitted to stand for around 161 hours after which time the product has crystallized as a dark mass of solid material. is broken up and washed with cold methanol. After drying the crystals a yield of about 65% of the theoretical is obtained. The crystals are lightyellow having a melting point of 60-61" C.

at 1 of mercury Absolute: pressure h and after crystallization from aqueous alcohol product analyzes as f ll w show the following analysis:

70 Per cent 0 Per cent H Per cent 0 Per cent H Calcd. for 0,111.0, 72. 00 6. 67 Ca1cd.for dunno, was 5. 26 Obtained egg s Obtained a2; '5;

This mass of material melt at temperatures. up to about 200 C.

' Preparation ofresi 'n Parts Furfurylmethyl furiurylethyl ketone. disulf'onate 1.4.0 Water 250 Furfural l 49 Hydrochloric acid 20.

These substances areplacedin a reaction vest selprovided. with an agitator in. the. order iven".

The resulting: mixture-is heated to about 40. G. and agitated for about. 1 hour, thereby producing. a black, homogeneous solution. The solutioniis; allowed to: standfor about 2 days during which time a=.g el. forms.

hours at 50 C. fol1owed by an additional 4=hQ11I'-S at around 100 C. The cured resin is ground and screened in the'usual'mann'er to produce a mate rial having. a. density of- 24 poundsper cubic foot and a capacityior'the absorption of cations from water equivalent to about 20,500 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin.

EXAMPLE 27 Preparation of furjurylidcncmethyl isobutyl ketone Parts Methyl isobutyl ketone (5 mols) 500 Furfural (5'mol's) -l 505 Sodium hydroxide (0.5 mole) 20 Water 2,000 Ethanol 1,160

The sodium hydroxide is dissolved in the water andthe ketone is. mixed. with the resulting solu tion in a reaction vessel provided with anagitator. The alcohol'is added to give a clear solution after which the furfural. isadded slowly over a periodof'about 40 minutes during which time the temperature of the reacting mixture remains at about room temperature. The reacting mixture is agitated for about 1' 2 hours after all of the furfural is added and then acidified by the addition of 10%: sulfuric acid. The oily material; which separates. is decanted. and distilled under reduced pressure yielding about 83% of the-theo- 'retical amount of. the product. The product is a:

light yellow liquid which boils at about 94 C. at

I around' l mm; of mercury absolute pressure and it hasthe fo'llowinganalysis:

Thegel is ground into small particles; spread on trays and. cured for about- 4- furyl'methyl isobutyl' ketone sulfonate. which has been crystallized twice from alcohol has n4. uUWllUblllUNS. -mbtt. v 3 3 l agsra aaa Preparation:ofifurfunulmethyl:fmrjmmlcthylz Preparation ofi potassium". L-aZnhm-furyld-ke toketorve'disulfdnatcl 5-methylhexane sulfonatc i Ram's Parts.

Furfurylidenezmethyllfuriurylidene etliylikee- Euriurylidenemethyl. isobutylv ketone- (0.16- Y tone: (Zzmols-l:;- lil 461i 5 mols). 31 Potassium: metabisulfite (2:- mols)".. 4.4a Hotassium. metabisulfite 20': Water-.. m, 800= Water 75 therebyprecipitating an additional quantity of I crystals. These crystals-are-filtered, washed with alcohol and combined. with: the first crop and dried. A yield of. about 58% of the theoretical amount of the product. which does not melt at temperatures up to 250 C; is obtained. For convenience this material will be designated as fur- A sample the following analysis:

The. su1'fonate,. water and acid are. mixed together to form a clear solution after which the furfural'is added. The resulting solution is al-- lowed to stand at about'room. temperature for about 3 days durin which time a rubbery gel forms. The gel is ground in small pieces and spread on trays and cured for about 4 hours at 50 0'. followed by an additional l hours at about 100.? C. After grinding and screening. as usual the packed density is about 26.2 pounds per cubic foot and it exhibits a capacity for the absorption of cations from water equivalent to'about 13,600 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin.

EXAMPLE 28 Preparation of potassium 1.-aZpha-furyl-Z-nitroethane sulfonate Aisoiution. of the furfurylidene nitromethane inthe alcohol-is heated. a reaction vessel provided with a. steam jacket. and a. mechanical agitator. During the heating a solution of the potassium metabisulfite in the water is added slowly over a period of about 25' minutes. The reacting mixture is heated for an additional 1-2 hours. The resulting solution is poured into about 4.-= times its volume of acetone; thereby precipitating a brown solid material which is filtered.

solid obtained Preparation of'resin Parts Potassium 1-alpha-furyl-Z-nitrcethane sulfonate (0.1 mol) 32 Furiural (0.2 mol) 24 Sulfuric acid (10.6%) 74.

The sulfonate is dissolved in the acid and the furfural is added. After standing at room temperature for about days, a gel forms. The gel is broken up into small pieces, spread on trays and curedfor about 4 hours at 50 C. and for an additional 4 hours at around 100 C. The cured resin is ground and screened a usual, thereby providing a material having a packed density of 27.7 pounds per cubic foot and which has a capacity for the exchange of cations from water equivalent to about 17,900 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin.

EXAMPLE 29 These substances are mixed together in a reaction vessel provided with an agitator and a refiux condenser. The reacting mixture is refluxed for about 2 hours at the end of which amount of solid material is present. is poured into about 1 /2 times its volume of acetime a small tone, thereby precipitating a fine white solid.

This solidmaterial is filtered and washed with acetone. The filtrate and washings are evaporated to dryness leaving an orange-colored residue which is suspended in acetone, filtered and washed with acetone. The white solid whichremains on the filter is combined with the white previously and dried. A yield of about 57% of the theoretical is obtained although analysis-indicates that the product containsa smallproportion of unreacted potassium meta bisulfite.

Preparation of resin.

Parts Ethyl 3-potassiumsulfo-3-alpha-furylpropionate (0.7 mol) 200 Furfural (1 mol) 106 Sulfuric acid (10.6%) 322 The propionate is dissolved in the acid by' warming slightly, and the fu'rfural is added. The

resulting mixture is agitated to produce a, clear solution. This solution is permitted to stand 'for about 3 days at about room temperature during which time a firm rubbery gel forms. The gel is ground to about 8 mesh, spread on trays and cured for about 4 hours at 50 0. followed by an additional 4 hours at approximately 100 C. The resulting resin is ground and screened as usual, thereby providing a material having a packed density of about 18.1 pounds per cubic foot and a capacity for the absorption of cations from water equivalent to about 23,000 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin.

EXAMPLE Preparation of sodium-3-scdiumsulfo-3-aiphafuwlpropionate g i a Parts '3-alpha-furylacrylic acid (1.5 mols) 207; Sodium sulfite (1.5 mols)--. 189 water 5.00

The mixture These substances are placed in a reaction vessel provided with a reflux condenser and a mechanical agitator. The reacting mixture is refluxed for about 3 hours. The resulting solution is concentrated by partially evaporating the sol vent after which it is cooled, thereby precipitating a solid material which is filtered. This procedure of concentrating, precipitating and filtering the solid material is repeated several times until finally all of the solvent has been evaporated. The solid material thus obtained is dried at about 100 C. providing a yield of about 93% of the theoretical amount. The product does not melt at temperatures up to about 250 C.

Preparation of resin Parts Sodium 3-sodiumsulfo-3-alpha-furylpropionate (1 mol) 264 Furfural (1.5 mole) 152 Water 500 Sulfuric acid (1 mol) 98 The propionate is dissolved in a solution of the acid in the water and the furfural is added. The resulting reacting mixture is agitated at room temperature for about 2 hours during which time the solution slowly darkens. The solution is permitted to stand for about 2 days at room temperature during which time a rubbery gel forms. The gel is broken up into small pieces and cured for about 4 hours at about 50 C. ollowed-by an additional 4 hours at around 100 C. After grinding and screening the final product has a packed density of 13.1 pounds per cubic foot and it has a capacity for the absorption of cations from water equivalent to about 16,100 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin.

EXAMPLE 31 T Preparation of 2potassiumsulfo-2-alphafurylpropionaldehyde Parts Impure 2-alpha-furylacrolein a Potassium metabisulfite 69 Water The 2-alpha-furylacrolein contains a small more. A small amount of all material which separated is decanted. -The reaction mixture is cooled and a solid mass forms. The solid mass is broken up, filtered, washed with alcohol and dried. Ayield of about 183 parts of product is obtained.

Preparation of resin Parts 2 potassiumsulfo-Z-alpha-furylpropionaldehyde 183 Furfural 127 Sulfuric acid (10.6%) 38'? The aldehyde is dissolved in the acid by heating after which the resulting solution is cooled to about 30 C. The furfural is added and the reacting mixture allowed to stand for 3 days after and screened to produce a material having a packed density of 25.4 pounds per cubic foot and a capacity for the exchange of cations from water equivalent to about 20,500 grains of calcium carbonateper cubic foot of resin.

EXAMPLE 32 Preparation of 2-cyano-.' -potassi1misulfo-3-- alpha-jurylpropionamide Parts Furfurylidene cyanacetamide (1 mol) 162 Potassium metabisulfite (0.5 mol) 111 Water 1 100 A mixture of these substances is heated until a clear' solution is obtained. The solution is refluxed for about 2 hours and then evaporated, leaving a light yellow solid as a residue. About 155 parts of slightly'hydrated product is obtained.

Preparation of resin M Parts 2 cyano 3 'potassiumsulfo 3 alpha furylpropionamide (0.5 mol) 155 Water 140 Hydrochloric acid 2 4 Furfural (1 mol) 101 pitta arti;rhiii;i ihii:

" which contain an active methyl or an active The amideis dissolved in a solution of the water and acid .and the furfural is added. The resulting solution is agitated for about 1 hour atroom temperature and allowed to stand for about 5 days,,duri ng which time a soft gel forms.

The gelis ground to small particles, spread on.

trays and cured for about 19 hours at C. followed by an additional 4 hours at around 100, ,C. After the cured resin is ground and screened its density is about 26.8 pounds per cubic foot and it has a capacity for the extraction ofcations from water. equivalent to about 11,100 grains of calcium carbonate per cubic foot of resin.

Most of the sulfon'ates useful in accordance with my-invention have the following general formula:

L J-ormonnx S OsM nate groups. Any of the "R groups in the above a formula or in the succeeding formulae may be any desired organic radical since they do not form the essential characteristics of my compositions. 1

It is apparent that 1 mol of furfural may be reacted with 1 mol of a ketone or other active compound and the resulting compound reacted with 1 mol of a bisulfite or sulfurous acid. On the other hand, ketones, or other substances having two active groups either methyl or methylene, may be reacted with one or two mols of-furfural and the resulting compound in turn reacted with 1 or 2 mols of a bisulfite or sulfurous acid. It may be desirable to employ an excess of the bisulflte or of the active compound in'orderto drive the reaction to completion.

The sulfonic acids used in the above examples are merely representative of those suitable for use in accordance with my invention. Various mixtures of the sulfonic acid may be used in.

place of the individual, compounds if desirable.

methylene group which may be condensed with furfural to yield an unsaturated compound to which a bisulfite may be added. Broadly speaking, the substances which may be reacted with furfural have the following general formula:

H2(IJ-R where R is hydrogen or an organic radical e. g., aliphatic, aromatic, hydroxyaromatic, iuryl etc., and K is an activating group possessing a polar bond, e. g.,

--C'ONR'R', COOR', --CN, N02, etc., where l R- is hydrogen or an organic radical. The condensation of furfural with a compound of this type results in a substanceof the following general formula;

where R and X have the same significance as above- Vinylogs of these substances are included since 1131s known that the polar bond activates groupsseparated therefrom by one or more vinyl groups.

A fewexamples of suitable compounds containing an active methyl or methylene group are:

chloracetic acid, crotonic acid, sorbic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, lauric acid, phenylacetic acid, oxalacetic acid, 3,5-dinitro-o-toluic acid, and their esters (such as the methyl, ethyl, benzyl and phenyl esters) and their amides, crotonaldehyde, sorbic aldehyde, propionaldehyde, heptaldehyde, succinic aldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, acetonitrile, propionitrile, lauronitrile, crotonic .nitrile, succinonitrile, phenylacetonitrile, nitroethane, l-nitropropane, 1 nitrobutane, 1 nitropropylene, l-nitro-octylene-Z, etc.

A compound of the foregoing type may be converted to the corresponding sulfonate by treatment with sulfur dioxide in a solvent medium including water or by treatment with a bisulfite. Suitable bisulfites include: sodium bisulfite, potassium-'bisulphite, ammonium bisulfite or any other desirable metal bisulfite such as calcium bisulfite. In general, the alkali metal bisulfites are preferred. The hydrogen sulfonates may be converted to the corresponding metal, ammonium or amine salts if desired examples of amines for such are: methyl amine, dimethyl amine, pyridine, triethyl amine, the mono-, diand triethanolamines, etc. Another method of producing the sulfonic acids of sulfonates is by treatment of the furfurylidene compounds with a hydrohalide followed by treatment with sodium sulfite or other metal sulfites.

Thus, for example, hydrogen chloride may be search w added "to furfurylidene acetone and the resulting materialtreated with sodium sulilte. Still an other type or sulfonate may be prepared by the condensation'of furfural with a halogen substituted ketone such as chloracetone followed by treatment (1) with a hydrogen halide and then with a sulfite or (2) with-a mixture of a bisulfite and 'a sul-fite. The bi'sulfite or sulflte maybeeither a salt'of an alkali metal, ammonia or any other desired metal or amine.

actants; Thus, if'a homogeneoussolution of the reactants be employed, the reaction will usually be completed in from about one-half hour to about two hours. On the other hand, if the solution of the reactants is not homogeneous, 6-8 hours oreven more-may be required. Generally, wateris employed as the solvent medium for the bisulfite and the furfurylidene compound,

but if suflicient solubility is not obtained other solvents may be used. Mixtures of water and water-miscible organic solvents are especially suitable since the water'is a good solvent for the bisulfite, while the organic solvent is a good solvent for the furfurylidene compound. Examples of suitable solvents are methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, tertiary butanol, dioxane, the

lower alkyl mono-ethers of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, such as monoethyl ether of ethylene glycol, the mono-butyl ether of diethylene glycol, etc. Furthermore, inert ketones may be employed as solvents for the reactants in'the production of the sulfonates. In some instances it may be desirable to employ active ketones' as intermediates in the preparation of the sulfonates. Thus, the bisuliite may be added to an active ketoneand thi in turn may react with the furfurylidene compound, the the bisulfite to the latter.

Other sulfonicacids or sulfonates which may be used in accordance with my invention may be obtained by condensing a sulfonic acid with a substance containing a furan ring as a substituent. Thus, for example, the sulfonic acid of hydroxybenzaldehyde could be condensed with mono-furfurylidene acetone. The resulting mono-sulfonic acid could be treated with a 'bisulfite or with sulfur dioxide in water to producea polysulfonic acid or polysulfonate. ,Either the monoor poly-sulfonic compounds could be resinlfied with furfural to produce a cation activeqmaterlal. It is to be noted from the foregoing examples that I may use either the sulfonic acids of sulfonates of monoor difurfurylidene compounds.

It is preferable that the sulfonates which are 1 suitable for the purposes of my'invention should not contain any basic amino group because the latter might tend to form internal salts with the sulfonic-group and thereby reduce the cation activity of theresin particularly ifthe resin is to i be used as a cation exchanger where, for example, alkaline earthmetals are-exchanged for soformer giving updium. However, my invention is not limited to the exclusion'of amino'groupszand if desired they may be present.

Mysulfoni'c acids are preferably resinified with furfural although part of the furfural maybe replaced with other aldehydes, particularly formaldehyde, a polymer of formaldehyde or a substance yielding formaldehyde. Other aldehydes which may be used include acetaldehyde, butaldehyde, heptaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, arolein, benzaldehyde, etc. I have found that products prepared with furfural alone or with furfural mixed with not more than an equimolecular proportion of I formaldehyde are superior to those prepared with other aldehydes or other proportions thereof. Themolal ratio of aldehyde tonsulfonate may be varied depending onthe desired properties, Usually, molal ratios of alde hyde to sulfonate between-about 1:1 and 3:1 are preferred. The molal ration is adjusted within the aforementioned-range, taking into consider-- ation the facts that swelling and solubility inas sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or phosphoric crease toward the low end of the range, while activity decreases toward the high end of the T range. I

The sulfonates may be condensed with furfural,

formalin, or other aldehyde under acid, neutral or alkaline conditions followed by acid gelation as illustrated in the foregoing examples.

While gelation of my sulfonate-aldehyde condensation products occurs slowly without the use of acid, from'a practical point of vieweither an acid or an acid salt should be used to induce gelation. For this purpose, strong mineral acids such acid are convenient and effective. Other substances which may be used are acid salts, e. g., ferric sulfate, ferric chloride, boron trifiuoride, mixtures of the mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid with any of the foregoing salts, etc.

The amount of acid employed varies somewhat cured at about 130 C. Such products'do not' with different acids. Generally, the molal ration of acid to sulfonateshould be between about 1:4 and 3:1, preferably about 1.5:1.

After gelation of the sulfonate-aldehyde condensation product, the gels are preferably aged at room temperature until sufficiently hard t6 be ground into small particles. The gel is ground to any desired size, e. g., to pass through an 8-12. meshscreen. The ground gel is dried and cured by heating in any suitable manner. The drying and curing process may be carried out at temperatures between about 15 C'. and about 200 C. The time required will, of course, vary somewhat with temperature. Generally, from about onehalf hour to about twenty-four hours is sufficient. Atleast part of the drying and curing operation is preferably carried out at a temperature of at least C. and preferably at a temperature of about C. It has been'found that a more insoluble product is obtained if the resins are throw color, whereas-products cured at lower temperatures may, upon long contact, very slightly color the solutions which are being treated.

If desired, other materialswhich contribute to cation activity and which react with aldehydes other than the furyl sulfonic acids, may be included in my resinous compositions, e. g., phenols,

polyhydric phenols, sulfonated monoand polyhydric phenols, other aromatic sulfonic acids, etc. Relatively inert aldehyde reactive materialsmay also be included, e. g., urea, dicyandiamide,

as i

the "aminotriazines such as melamine, the sulfonamides, etc.

My resinous materials may be used alone or in admixture with other cation-active materials. Furthermore, my resins may be applied before gelation to a suitable carrier such as diatomaceous earth, clays, charcoal, etc. In this way, the active'resin is spread on the surface of a relatively inert material and this enables one toemploy a smaller quantity of resin than otherwise to obtain the same active area.

Resinous material prepared according to my invention are useful in the removal of cations from fluid media, especially aqueous solutions. The resins may be used in the hydrogen-activated form to remove cations from solutions of bases. My resinous cation-active materials may also be employed as exchange materials in accordance with the principles applied to the use of the natural and synthetic zeolites. Thus, the resin may be activated with a sodium salt such as sodium chloride and upon contact with a solution containing calcium, magnesium or other cations, an exchange of the latter ions for the sodium ions takes place.

The activating solutions or regenerating solutions are dilute acid solutions or dilute salt solutions, e. g about 0.2%-% of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, etc.

To be sufliciently insoluble for practical use in the art of water purification, a resin should have a sufiiciently low solubility that it will not be dissolved away rapidly by the solution to be treated. Thus, water should not dissolve more than about 1 part of resin in 1,000 parts of water when passed through a bed of resin (after the first cycle comprising an activation, exhaustion and reactivation. of the resin).

My processes of purifying fluid media are applicable, not only to water purification and to the purification of sugar solutions as illustrated in Examples 1 and 2, but also to the removal of heavy metal cations from foods, beverages and pharmaceutical products, for the removal of basic dyes from fluid media, for the removal of valuable cations from dilute solutions, e. g'., gold from sea ,water, chromium from chrome tanning liquors, silver. from photographic baths, etc. important application of my purification proc- Another esses is in the absorption or adsorption of gases such as ammonia triethylamine, methylamine, etc. from fluid media either dissolved in a liquid or from, vapors. Such vapors may consist almost entirely of the gas to be absorbed or they may contain a relatively inert gas such as air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.

Obviously many variations in the processes and compositions described above may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A process of removing cations: from fluid media which comprises treating a fluid containing cations with an alpha-furyl substituted organic sulfonate reacted with and insolubilized by an aldehyde.

2. A process of removing cations from fluid media which comprises treating a fluid containing cations with an alpha-furyl substituted sulfonates free of basic amino groups reacted with and insolubilized by at least one aldehyde.

3. A process of removing cations from fluid media which comprises treating a fluid containing cations with an alpha-furyl substituted sulfonate reacted with and insolubilized by at least one aldehyde including furfural.

4. A process of removing cations from fluid media which comprises treating a fluid containing cations with a 1-aipha-fury1 ketone sulfcnate reacted with and insolubilized by at least onealdehyde including furfural.

5. A process of removing cations from fluid media which comprises treating a fluid containing cations with an insolubilized condensation of at least one aldehyde including furfural and a 1,5 -di-alpha-furyl-3-ketopentane disulfonate-LS.

6. A process of removing cations from fluid media which comprises treating a fluid contain- JACK T. THURSTON.

98 C Ml HUUHI 

